Stabilizing fixture for firearm receivers

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a receiver stabilizing fixture for use with the receiver of a firearm. The stabilizing fixture interfaces with bracketry or a pre-existing element of the firearms design. The stabilizing fixture is mounted to the firearm through means common to the art, such as pins or screws. The stabilizing fixture allows for recoil forces to be better distributed in the firearm. This reduces wear on recoil sensitive parts.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present Application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/030,110 filed on May 26, 2020, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

FIELD

This disclosure generally relates to a stabilizing fixture for firearm receivers.

BACKGROUND

Current firearm trigger modules or lower receivers of rifles are the assemblies for firearms where the feeding, firing, and cocking of the weapon takes place. These trigger modules or lower receivers are normally where functional components like triggers, hammers, sears, safety mechanisms, and magazine catches are found. These components are found in a fixed relationship, within a fixed housing, with various forms of attachment. This attachment can be with screws, pins, brackets, and slip fitting into place. Normally one or several of these methodologies are used. In the case of slip fitting, where the firearm receiver is secured on one end with a pin or a screw, the slip fitted end enters into a channel or gap that secures that end.

Some firearms with slip fitted receivers may present with accelerated damage or wear to other components as the slip fit may have reduced ability to bear the load of the firearms function. The present invention overcomes these drawbacks by allowing for an external stabilizing fixture entering gaps for a slip fit component. This stabilizing fixture will provide the slip fit component the ability to be secured via pins, screws, or other mechanisms common with the art, and will reduce secondary component issues by providing a more stable structure to absorb operating forces.

BRIEF SUMMARY

The present invention is generally directed to a firearm receiver. The external fixture of the present invention may be integral to a new design or be removably attached or coupled to a firearm component. The present invention allows for the recoil forces to be distributed across stronger firearms components shielding weaker components from damage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of the fixture in relation to the lower receiver and back plate of a Fabrique Nactionale Herstal SCAR® 17S according to one exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a pre installation side view of the fixture in relation to the threaded retaining nut and back plate of a Fabrique Nactionale Herstal SCAR® 17S according to one exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a 45 degree view of the fixture installed, with retaining nut, affixed into the back plate of a Fabrique Nactionale Herstal SCAR® 17S according to one exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the fixture installed, with retaining nut, affixed into the back plate and installed into a lower receiver of a Fabrique Nactionale Herstal SCAR® 17S according to one exemplary embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention is generally directed to a firearm receiver. It is ever more particular to, but not exclusive to, the lower receiver of a firearm. The present invention generally allows for increasing the internal strength of a firearm to absorb recoil energy. It is generally understood that the mounting of the present inventive stabilizing fixture may be integral to a pre-existing component of the firearm. Alternatively, the stabilizing fixture may be attached without relying on an existing element of the firearm.

Although FIGS. 1 through 4 are illustrated with the Fabrique Nactionale Herstal SCAR® 17S as an example, the inventive stabilizing fixture could be used with and could be attached to any lower receiver of a rifle or other firearms.

As shown in FIGS. 1 through 4, in one embodiment, the present inventive stabilizing fixture generally includes the fixture body 110, threaded retaining nut 135, and retaining pin 130. The fixture body 110 is ideally joined to the existing firearm through a gap in the firearm. The fixture body 110 could also require modification to one of the components of the firearm. Lastly, the fixture body 110 could be attached or coupled to the firearm in a manner common with the art and a newly design lower receiver would be attached that is optimized for the fixture. Thus, the present inventive stabilizing fixture could be manufactured as part of a new lower receiver assembly or may be retrofitted to existing lower receivers to provide firearm owners with improved durability and function in their firearms.

Turning to FIGS. 1-4, the present invention may be described in further detail. In one embodiment, the external fixture 110 could be removably attached to a bracket found with in a firearm. Alternatively, the fixture may be permanently affixed to the bracket.

In one embodiment, the fixture body 110 may comprise of shaft, locking ring (or locking nut) 135, and retaining pin (or screw) 130. The fixture body 110 can be mounted by screws, welding, or quick detach hardware, or by being machined into place.

In addition to the fixture body 110, the stabilizing fixture further includes a locking nut (or locking ring) 135 and a retaining pin (or screw) 130. This embodiment is shown for use with a Fabrique Nactionale-Herstal (FN-Herstal) SCAR™ 17S rifle. The fixture body 110 may fit into the negative space of the firearm's back plate 125. The back plate 125 in the FN-Herstal's design attaches the buttstock, upper receiver, and lower receiver 120 together. The back plate 125 may have an open space which allows for the slip fitting of the lower receiver 120 into the back plate 125. In one embodiment, the open space is now fitted with the stabilizing fixture 110. The stabilizing fixture 110 may fill in all of the negative space in the back plate. This prevents any interference with function of the buttstock assembly.

In one embodiment, the stabilizing fixture 110 may be secured with a threaded retaining nut 135. This retaining nut 135 could prevent any back and forth movement of the stabilizing fixture 110. The retaining nut 135 can be made of any material, but ideally is made of an alloy to create the strongest possible bond.

In one embodiment, the stabilizing fixture 110 may be designed for use with a new lower receiver 120. The new lower receiver 120 could be designed with a negative space for the stabilizing fixture 110 but also has retaining pins 130 in place. These retaining pins 130 may further secure the new lower receiver 120 with the firearm's backplate 125. The assembly of the stabilizing fixture 110 with the pre-existing firearms components could create a firearm more capable of dealing with recoil forces during operation of the firearm.

In one embodiment, the components of the present inventive stabilizing fixture may be made of metal, but may alternatively be made of other durable materials that would be well-known to those skilled in the art. In addition, the present invention may either be an add-on product to existing firearm receivers or a stock product with new versions of firearm lower receivers.

Various aspects of the disclosure have been described above. It should be apparent that the teachings herein may be embodied in a wide variety of forms and that any specific structure, function, or both being disclosed herein is merely representative. Based on the teachings herein one skilled in the art should appreciate that an aspect disclosed herein may be implemented independently of any other aspects and that two or more of these aspects may be combined in various ways. For example, an apparatus may be implemented or a method may be practiced using any number of the aspects set forth herein. In addition, such an apparatus may be implemented or such a method may be practiced using other structure, functionality, or structure and functionality in addition to or other than one or more of the aspects set forth herein.

While the invention has been described in connection with various aspects, it will be understood that the invention is capable of further modifications. This application is intended to cover any variations, uses or adaptation of the invention following, in general, the principles of the invention, and including such departures from the present disclosure as come within the known and customary practice within the art to which the invention pertains. 

We claim:
 1. A stabilizing fixture for firearms, comprising: a fixture body removably coupled to a back plate of a lower receiver of a firearm; a retaining pin inserted through an opening of the fixture body, an opening of the backplate of the lower receiver of the firearm, and a locking ring to couple the fixture body to the backplate of the lower receiver of the firearm, wherein the locking ring is used to secure the retaining pin and the fixture body to the lower receiver; and wherein the fixture body is coupled and secured to the lower receiver to provide a load bearing structure to distribute and absorb recoil forces of the firearm.
 2. The stabilizing fixture for firearms of claim 1, wherein the retaining pin is a threaded screw.
 3. The stabilizing fixture for firearms of claim 1, wherein the locking ring is a threaded nut.
 4. The stabilizing fixture for firearms of claim 3, wherein the threaded nut is made of a metal alloy. 